IPL 2018, RCB vs KXIP: 5 talking points

#2 Partnership-breaker Sundar halts Punjab's comeback

Washington Sundar's dismissal of Rahul proved to a decisive moment in the match

After Yadav's triple strikes brought Kings XI Punjab's quick-fire start to a screeching halt, Rahul and Nair brought their innings back on track with a 58-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

It was Sundar who broke the partnership thereby bringing RCB back into the game and it turned out to be a game changer in the end as Punjab never fully recovered from the setback of losing Rahul, three runs short of his half-century.

A late effort by KXIP skipper Ashwin helped push the side's total beyond the 150-run mark but on a good batting surface such as the one at Bengaluru, 155 always seemed like a below-par total and so it proved in the end.

If Rahul had stayed along with Nair, the match could well have slipped out of RCB's grasp but Sundar ensured otherwise with his brilliant bowling.